Obtaining energy from waste products by the pyrolysic process using exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine or turbine

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for obtaining energy from waste products is disclosed. The apparatus includes an upper tank for receiving waste products, a heating system for heating the upper tank by fluid from the cooling system of the combustion engine, and a reactor for excepting the heated waste for further processing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to chemical recycling.

More particularly, the present invention relates to means for obtainingenergy from waste products by the pyrolysic process using exhaust gasfrom an internal combustion engine or turbine.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Numerous innovations for chemical recycling have been provided in theprior art that are adapted to be used. Even though these innovations maybe suitable for the specific individual purposes to which they address,they would not be suitable for the purposes of the present invention asheretofore described.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide anapparatus for obtaining energy from waste products avoids thedisadvantages of the prior art.

More particularly, it is an object of the present invention to providean apparatus for obtaining energy from waste products that utilizeswaste and heat from exhaust gases to obtain mechanical energy andchemical by-products, such as benzene and naphathaline, in addition tothe metal collected. The exhaust gas produced by the use of the presentinvention is safe and will not poison the environment in which itfunctions.

In keeping with these objects, and with others which will becomeapparent hereinafter, one feature of the present invention resides,briefly stated, in an apparatus using fluid from a cooling system of aninternal combustion engine for obtaining energy from waste products, andcomprising an upper tank for receiving the waste products, a heatingsystem for heating the upper tank by using the fluid from the coolingsystem of the internal combustion engine, so that the waste products areheated and wherein a reactor is provided for excepting the heated wasteproducts.

When the apparatus is designed in accordance with the present invention,energy is obtained from the waste products.

In accordance with another feature of the present invention, it furthercomprises a control valve for regulating the amount of waste enteringthe reactor.

Another feature of the present invention is that the reactor functionsas a pipe heat exchanger.

Yet another feature of the present invention is that it furthercomprises an electric resistance heater that provides the extra heatnecessary to start a exothermic chemical reaction.

Still another feature of the present invention is that it furthercomprises a lower tank where the liquid and solid hydrocarbons aredisposed.

Yet still another feature of the present invention is that the reactoris directly connected to the internal combustion engine without the needfor connecting pipes so that no energy is wasted between the internalcombustion engine and the reactor.

Still yet another feature of the present invention is that it furthercomprises a bolt, an exhaust pipe having a beginning, a high velocityexhaust gas, and a high temperature point so that the high temperaturepoint is achieved by installing the bolt through the exhaust pipe at itsbeginning and having the high velocity exhaust ga hit the bolt and givethe bolt energy that yields the high temperature point.

The novel features which are considered characteristic for the inventionare set forth in particular in the appended claims. The inventionitself, however, both as to its construction and its method ofoperation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof, willbe best understood from the following description of the specificembodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing showing the principle of operation of thecarburetor engine used in the present invention;

FIGS. 2, 2A, and 2B show the reactor type pipe heat exchanger of thepresent invention;

FIGS. 3 and 3B show the high temperature point of the present invention;

FIGS. 4, 4A, and 4B show the reactor type spiral pipe heat exchanger ofthe present invention;

FIGS. 5, 5A, and 5B show the reactor type plate-pipe heat exchanger ofthe present invention;

FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing the principle of operation of thediesel engine of the present invention; and

FIG. 7 shows the distribution of temperature in the reactor and theupper tank.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS UTILIZED IN THE DRAWING

10 - engine

12 - reactor

14 - electro-resistance heater

16 - automatic electro-resistance heater switch of theelectro-resistance heater switch 14

18 - sensor for the reactor temperature gauge

20 - lower tank

22 - draining valve of the lower tank 20

24 - fluid hydrocarbons in the lower tank 20

26 - solid hydrocarbons in the lower tank 20

28 - suction valve

30 - exhaust valve

32 - control valve

34 - heating jacket for the exhaust gas

36 - heating jacket for the fluid from the cooling system

38 - waste in the upper tank 40

40 - upper tank

42 - fluid from the cooling system

44 - safety valve

46 - filler/flap valve

48 - first gas hydrocarbon filter

50 - second gas hydrocarbon filter

52 - cooler

54 - gas hydrocarbon valve

56 - flow-meter for the gas hydrocarbons

58 - carburetor

60 - flow-meter for fluid fuel

62 - fluid fuel valve

64 - gauge for the exhaust gas analyzer meter

66 - automatic control system

68 - exhaust gas

70 - heating pipe in the reactor 40

72 - gas hydrocarbons

74 - fluid fuel

76 - to the servomechanism that adjusts the RPMs

78 - to angle of advance

80 - to the servomechanism of the control valve

82 - engine shown in FIG. 2

84 - pipes shown in FIGS. 2, 2A, and 2B

86 - reactor shown in FIGS. 2, 2A, and 2B

88 - exhaust gas pipe shown in FIGS. 3 and 3B

90 - bolt

92 - high temperature point shown in FIGS. 3 and 3B

94 - engine shown in FIG. 4

96 - pipes shown in FIG. 4

98 - reactor shown in FIGS. 4, 4A and 4B

100 - engine shown in FIG. 5

102 - pipes shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, 5, 5A, and 5B

104 - reactor shown in FIGS. 5, 5A, and 5B

106 - steel rod shown in FIG. 5B

108 - high temperature point shown in FIG. 5B

110 - engine shown in FIG. 6

112 - suction valve

114 - exhaust valve

116 - exhaust gas pipe

118 - reactor shown in FIG. 6

120 - heating jacket of the exhaust gas

122 - upper tank shown in FIG. 6

124 - first gas hydrocarbon filter shown in FIG. 6

126 - second gas hydrocarbons filter shown in FIG. 6

128 - cooler shown in FIG. 6

130 - gas hydrocarbons shown in FIG. 6

132 - throttle shown in FIG. 6

134 - lower tank shown in FIG. 6

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The automatic control system 66 of the present invention regulates thepurity of the exhaust gas 68, the temperature of the reaction, and theamount of obtainable gas hydrocarbons 130.

The degree of purity of the exhaust gas 68 is controlled by the amountof liquid fuel 74, and the quality of the hydrocarbon gas fuel 72.

The air-fuel mixture of the carburetor 58 is correct. If the engine 10,82, 94, 100, or 110 has too rich a mixture the automatic control system(ACS) 66 will lower first the liquid fuel intake and next it will lowerthe amount of gas hydrocarbons 130.

If the engine 10, 82, 94, 100, or 110 has too lean a mixture, the ACSwill increase first the amount of gas hydrocarbons 130 and next theamount of the liquid fuel.

The temperature of the reaction is controlled by changing the amount ofwastes in the reactor 12, 86, 98, 104, or 118 changing the revolutionper minute of the engine 10, turning the electrical resistance heater 14on or off, and change the angle of advance 78 of the distributor of theignition system.

The correct temperature of the reaction should be 700° C. If thetemperature is too low, the ACS will lower the amount of the waste inthe reactor 12, 86, 98, 104 or 118 increase the revolutions per minuteof the engine 10, 10, 82, 94, 100, or 110 turn on the electricalresistance heater 14, and lower the angle of advance 78 of thedistributor of the ignition system.

If the temperature is too high, the ACS turns off the electricalresistance heater 14, increases the amount of waste in the reactor 12,86, 98, 104 or 118 and lowers the revolutions per minute of the engine10, 82, 94, 100, or 110. The angle of distributor advance is notchanged.

The ratio of hydrocarbons to air are kept correct. If there is toolittle gas hydrocarbons 130, the ACS 66 will increase the temperature ofthe reaction. If there is too much gas hydrocarbons 130, the ACS 66 willdecrease the temperature of the reaction.

The automatic control system 66 of the present invention, as shown inthe FIGS. 1 through 7, include a sensor 18 for the reactor temperaturegauge, a gauge 64 for the exhaust gas analyzer meter, a flow-meter 56for the gas hydrocarbons, a flow meter 60 for the fluid fuel, and asensor for the safety valve 44.

Additionally, a control valve 32, gas hydrocarbons valve 54, fluid fuelvalve 62, automatic electro resistance heater switch 16, angle ofadvance regulator, and a servomechanism to adjust the RPMs.

EXAMPLE OF THE DISPOSITION OF TEMPERATURE IN THE REACTOR 12 AND THEUPPER TANK 40, AS SHOWN IN FIG. 7

700° C. at the high temperature point,

100° C. at the top of the reactor 12,

800° C. at the bottom of the heating jacket 36 with fluid, and

40° C. at the top of the heating jacket 36 with fluid.

EXAMPLE OF THE ENERGY DISTRIBUTION OF THE CHEMICAL REACTION OF THEPRESENT INVENTION

Q₁ - heat gained by the exhaust gas,

Q₂ - heat gained by the chemical reaction,

Q₃ - heat gained by the fluid from the cooling system of the engine,

Q₄ - heat lost by the exhaust gas,

Q₅ - heat lost by the fluid from the cooling system of the engine,

Q₆ - heat lost by the hydrocarbons, and

Q₇ - lost waste heat.

where Q₁ +Q₂ +Q₃ =Q₄ +Q₅ +Q₆ +Q₇

EXAMPLE OF THE MASS BALANCE OF THE CHEMICAL REACTION OF THE PRESENTINVENTION

m₁ - garbage mass,

m₂ - gas hydrocarbons mass,

m₃ - fluid hydrocarbons mass,

m₄ - solid hydrocarbons mass, and

m₅ - ash mass.

where: m₁ =m₂ +m₃ +m₄ +m₅

The present invention depends upon obtaining from the waste,hydrocarbons of gas, fluid, and solid by the use of the pyrolysisprocess. The waste used must contain carbon and hydrogen, together withplastic, rubber, wood, straw, leaves, or cloth.

The waste is cut into small pieces and is then placed into the uppertank 40. The upper tank 40 is heated by the fluid from the coolingsystem 42 of the internal combustion engine 10. The waste drops downinto the reactor 12 through the control valve 32 with the reactor 12being a pipe heat exchanger. In the that comes from the internalcombustion engine 10 or turbine, and the waste, is counter current. Theexhaust 68 comes from an internal combustion engine 10 or turbine.

The temperature during the pyrolysis process, is dependent upon thechemical constitution of the waste. The pyrolysis process functionsbetter at a high temperature point, that is in the range of 300° to700°.

The additional electric resistance heater 14 provides extra heatnecessary to start the exothermic chemical reaction. The heated gashydrocarbons from the pyrolysis process return to the upper tank 40where they are filtered and cooled. The gas comes from the internalcombustion engine 10, 82, 94, 100, or 110 and is utilized as the fuelfor the internal combustion engine 10, 82, 94, 100, or 110 or turbine.The process is a closed cycle and the liquid 24 and the solidhydrocarbons 26 are disposed in the lower tank 20.

The manner in which the reactor 12, 86, 98, 104 or 118 is connected tothe engine 10, 82, 94, 100, or 110 is as follows. If one were to takethe engine , 82, 94, 100, or 110, in which the intake manifold (notshown) and the exhaust manifold (not shown) are on opposite sides of theengine 10, 82, 94, 100, or 110, one may take the exhaust manifold (notshown) out and connect the reactor 12 directly to the engine 10, 82, 94,100, or 110 without the need for connecting pipers, as shown in FIG. 1,FIG. 2, FIG. 4, FIG. 5, and FIG. 6. This direct connection does notwaste any energy between the engine 10, 82, 94, 100, or 110 and thereactor 12, 86, 98, 104 or 118.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3, FIG. 3B, FIG. 5B, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, thehigh temperature point 92 is achieved by installing a bar or bolt 90through the exhaust gas pipe adjacent the reactor so that the exhaustgas, with its high velocity hits the bar or bolt 90 and gives the bar orbolt 90 energy that yields the high temperature point 92.

It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or twoor more together, may also find a useful application in other types ofconstructions differing from the type described above.

While the invention has been illustrated and described as embodied inmeans for obtaining energy from waste products by the pyrolysic processusing exhaust gas from an internal combustion engine or turbine, it isnot intended to be limited to the details shown, since it will beunderstood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions andchanges in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in itsoperation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing inany way from the spirit of the present invention.

Without further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist ofthe present invention that others can, by applying current knowledge,readily adapt it for various applications without omitting featuresthat, from the standpoint of prior art, fairly constitute essentialcharacteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention.

What is claimed as new and desired to be protected by Letters Patent isset forth in the appended claims.

I claim:
 1. Apparatus using fluid from a cooling system of an internalcombustion engine for obtaining energy from waste products,comprising:a) an upper tank for receiving the waste products; b) meansforming a heating system for heating said upper tank by using the fluidfrom the cooling system of the internal combustion engine so that thewaste products are heated; and c) means forming a reactor for acceptingthe heated waste products for processing so that the energy is obtainedfrom the waste products.
 2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1; furthercomprising a control valve for regulating the amount of waste enteringsaid reactor.
 3. Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said reactorfunctions as a pipe heat exchanger.
 4. Apparatus as defined in claim 3;further comprising an electric resistance heater that provides the extraheat necessary to start a exothermic chemical reaction.
 5. Apparatus asdefined in claim 4; further comprising a lower tank in communicationwith said reactor where liquid and solid hydrocarbons are disposed. 6.Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said reactor is directlyconnected to the internal combustion engine without the need forconnecting pipes so that no energy is wasted between the internalcombustion engine and said reactor.
 7. An apparatus as defined in claim6 further comprising means forming an exhaust pipe connected to andextending from said reactor, a bolt installed in said exhaust pipeclosely adjacent said reactor such that high velocity exhaust gascontacting said bolt creates a high temperature point at an end of saidbolt.